What a job that WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff has done with the softball program on and off the field. Last season, Winn-Ratliff guided the Cougars to a 54-10 record and the program's first Region IX title and trip to the NJCAA national tournament. It was a magical season for the team, who were ranked as high as No. 11 in the pre-season polls entering the season.

Winn-Ratliff has steadily kept making the softball program one of the most feared in the Region, let alone the nation. She took a team that at one time won just three games (before she was coach) and moved the program into a winning direction.

But what stands out about the softball program is that the team is one of the top teams academically. For the last four seasons, these groups of young ladies have earned the award for best GPA among the seven sports teams at WNCC. Many of the players have earned either All-Region IX or NJCAA academic honors.

In her four seasons at WNCC, Winn-Ratliff has become one of the top coaches in the region as well as a respected instructor, and community member. When she came to WNCC she helped revamp a run-down softball field into one of the finest softball fields in the Panhandle, including a scoreboard, press box, locker room storage shed and an outfield relaxation area.

All this turning around the program goes to the coach. She is the main reason why this program is succeeding. And, it all starts with the coach (and with a name like Winn, how can you not win). Winn-Ratliff came to WNCC in August 2004 with high credentials having played at Columbia College in Missouri. Most recently before landing her first head coaching job, she was an assistant at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. Winn-Ratliff also served as an assistant coach at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga., and Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn.

Winn-Ratliff has also helped coach a traveling summer ball team in Colorado, sponsored by Triple Crown Sports.  She spends and extensive amount of her time recruiting and has attended the Canada Cup in British Columbia, various tourneys in Colorado, Utah, Las Vegas and California. She also has helped out with many camps over the summers and fall seasons in various parts of Colorado and the United States. 

Winn-Ratliff resides in Scottsbluff with her husband Ed and their two dogs Summitt and Duke.

Career record: 140-86 (4 years)
NJCAA All-Americans : 2
NJCAA Academic All-Americans: 6
NFCA All-Americans:  3
NFCA Academic All-Americans: 6
Region IX All-Region: 26
Region IX Academic All-Region: 26